Livestreaming through Vimeo is currently only available with a paid Advanced, Premium or Enterprise plan on Vimeo.
To embed a Vimeo livestream on your Event, you'll first need to configure your livestream settings, then add your Vimeo livestream (or pre-recorded video) URL.
You cannot add livestream video to a Form or Page campaign, but you can easily change the type of an existing campaign. You can also add livestream video to an Event campaign with an auction!
Setting up your livestream ⚙️
In your dashboard, choose the Event campaign you'd like to add a livestream to from the Campaigns tab.
Select the Event tab. At the top of the page, ensure you've selected either a Digital or Hybrid event type. (You cannot add livestream video to an In Person event.)
Scroll down to the Livestream section. Livestream on Givebutter will be selected.
Select Vimeo from the dropdown list.
Choose when you'd like your livestream to go live.
Manually control – Turn the livestream on and off using the Start and Stop buttons located in this section.
Schedule – Set times for your livestream to automatically start and stop. Your Givebutter page will automatically show and hide your livestream at the designated time without requiring visitors to refresh the page.
When you go live from most platforms, viewers will see the cover photo automatically switch over to your livestream – whether you started it manually or at a scheduled time, your guests won't need to refresh the page.
When you go live on Givebutter while your Vimeo stream is live, you will see your live stream playing on the campaign page.
Adding a livestream URL 🎬
When you create an event, you will see a URL formatted like this: https://vimeo.com/event/3962425. This is where viewers will watch the event while it is livestreaming – simply copy and paste this URL into your Givebutter campaign settings to use as your Livestream URL.
Live event URLs are only available on plans that include livestreaming, including Advanced or Enterprise plans. Read more about Vimeo's paid plans →
Using pre-recorded video 🎥
To use pre-recorded video in place of a livestream, you'll need to first upload a video to Vimeo. On your Vimeo video's page, you can copy the URL directly from your browser's address bar.
You can also locate a sharable URL by clicking the Share button under a Vimeo video. Use this URL in the Livestream URL field in your campaign settings.
Video privacy
For either livestream option, you'll want to make your Vimeo video/stream Public (anyone can find and watch via Vimeo). To change your video visibility settings, follow Vimeo's instructions for changing video privacy options. If the video setting is Private or Password (protected by a password), viewers will be unable to see the video.
A quick way to verify your visibility settings is to open an incognito window in your browser and paste in the video's URL. If you are able to watch the video, you shouldn't run into issues.
FAQ 🤔
Can I host a livestream with multiple hosts and screen sharing on Vimeo?
This isn't possible on Vimeo directly. To include multiple hosts or screen share on a livestream, we'd recommend using Zoom and porting your livestream to Vimeo.
Can I test my livestream before my event?
Yes! You can go live at any time – no notifications are sent out. If you'd like to test your livestream without the risk of anyone accidentally seeing it on your live campaign page, you can always create a test Event campaign to become familiar with the functions before the day of your public livestream.
Are supporters notified when a livestream starts on Givebutter?
No, it functions like a standard event – reminders are sent out 24 hours and 1 hour beforehand, and only if reminders are enabled.
What's the difference between using a video as the campaign Cover Photo and using a pre-recorded video as a livestream?
While both options provide a similar result, a scheduled livestream event creates a sense of place, urgency, and community you won't get with an embedded video on your campaign page. A livestream will also be labeled as such on the public page, and you can toggle between your livestream video and cover photo to suit your event timings.
Can I host multiple livestreams during my event? Can I use multiple streaming platforms?
Yes, however you cannot use multiple livestreams simultaneously on one Event page. You are able to change your livestream information (including platform and URL) whenever you like, even if it's during your event.
Can I add a livestream directly to the auction page/tab on my campaign?
Not currently, no – the livestream will be located on the main campaign Overview page. Please see the feature request for embedding a livestream on the auction tab!